Inside cover for smoking-tobacco boxes.



E. J. BRENNAN.

lNSIDE COVER FOR SMOKING TOBACCO BOXES.

APPUCATION FILED FEB. 5. 1911. RENEWED FEB. 13.1918.

1,280,383, Patented Oct. 1, 1918.

EDWARD J. T BRENNAN, F OAKVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

Application filed February 5, 1917, Serial No. 146,571.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. BRENNAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakville, county of Litchfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Im rovement in Inside Covers for Smoking-To acco Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to supplemental dispensing tops or lids for containers, with more particular reference to a particular type of sheet-metal container in which pipe and cigarette tobacco'is'now extensively packaged and sold. A popular style of tobacco package now in general use is that of a-comparatively thin tin box having flat front and rear faces, rounded narrower sides, a flat bottom and a hinged top, this particular shape having been found for a certain desired and convenient sizeto be best adapted for use as a dispensing 0011- tainer in View of the fact'that it may be car'- ried in the pocket of a garment without excessive bulging.

In filling a pipe or rolling a cigarette, the packed tobacco is loosened or somewhat granulated with the finger or with a pencil or the like, and then generally poured from the container into the pipe or upon the cigarette paper. When the tobacco has become somewhat dry and attempt is made to fill a pipe or roll a cigarette out of doors, the fact that the whole end of the can must be opened ofttimes occasions excessive wasting of the tobacco, particularly on a windy day, as it is likely to flow too freely from the can and much thereof lost by being blown away or an over-supply accidentally dispensed or spilled and thus lost or wasted. The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a supplemental lid or top, which may be easily and quickly applied to the box in such manner as not to interfere with operation of the permanent cap or cover which reducesthe area of the mouth of the box to such comparatively small size that the amount of tobacco which can be caused to flow therethrough is under more nearly perfeet control, and in which all of the tobacco except that which is flowing through the small dispensing orifice is protected from the elements and more or less safeguarded against loss through any ordinary accident.

My invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanyin drawing, olrmliing a part of this speci catlon, in w 10 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1, 1918.. Renewed February 13, 1918. Serial No. 216,975.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tobacco box of the type to which I have referred, with the hinged cover in open position, to which has been applied a supplemental dispensing lid embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a substantially central transverse section of the top portion of the same;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the supplemental lid showing one side edge thereof,

and

Fig. 4 is a similarvie showing the other side edge thereof. i

eferring now to the drawings in detail, numeral 7 designates a well-known type of dispensing container for tobacco, the same being laterallyfiattened with the narrower sides 8 and 9 rounded, to give the can a form which adapts it to be more conveniently carried in the pocket. The telescoping top or cover 10 is hinged to the rear wall 11 of'the can, and for purposes of economy in manuwide recess in the, upper edge of the rear Wall of the can.

My supplemental lid comprises a thin flat plate 14, the width of which is the same as the width of the mouth of the can and which in length is somewhat less than the length of said month. One end 15 of this plate is rounded to conform to the rounded side 8 of the can, and it will therefore be seen that this lid will snugly fit within the mouth of the can, as shown in Fig. 1, a notch 16 being preferably provided in the rounded end of the plate to receive a double seam 17 which forms an interior protuberancecans of this type being almost invariably formed with this seam which is located at the middle of one of the narrower sides thereof.

These cans are furthermore invariably provided with a groove or bead 18 near the provide on one side edge of the plate 14 the depending tongues 19 and 20, the lower ends 21 and 22 of which are-outwardly flanged.- The length of each tongue is the same as the distance from the top 'edge'ot the can to the groove 18, and the length of each of the flanges approximates thedepth' of said greene At the\othersideedgeotthe-plate'l provide the elongated depending lip 28 and the; outwardly flanged tongues 2 1 andf25,

corresponding to the tongues 2-1 and 22,;at

the ends thereot. a

i It will now be; seen that by slightly spreading apart the flat side walls of. the:

cam. whioh can readily be done withinthe limit/smot-jelasticity of the metal by press-mg. the; rounded SlQlGQlLQWtLHCl each Ollh81',; the

plate M-may be: passed into the mouth oi the;

can so that the flanges of the tongues 21, 22, 24c and enter the-tgroore 18, thus firmly holding the lid in place with the top face,

thereof flush withthe-upiper edge of-thecan body, the notch. 1P6 receiving the protruding seam 17 and the lip-23 eoveringthe.opening which would otherwise be caused by the recess inthe topedge of the-rean-wall of the, can, towhich I- hay-e referred. Therefore,

when the box is 7 opened by throwing baclt thehinged cover 10, the mouth thereof stillremains almost completely closed-,the compa ratively small orifice 26 att'h'e end of the lid: 11; being the only openin through which the contents of the box may be dispensed.

I ha e'shown theend 27 of the plate 14, cut in eoncave form. This enables me to provide a. substantially circular dispensing". orifice wh ch. 1S of pleasing appearance and possibly-111cm satisfactory in-dispensing the contentsiofthe can. The shapeof this end, however, is of minor importance. The lid might possibly be more cheaply constructed and just as satisfactorily answer all purposesby cutting: it. with assquare end oppoe sitethe rounded. end.

, With respect to my improved supplemental dispensing lid, it will; be noted thatits application to the box doesnot interfereiinany way. with. the operation of the usual hinged-cover; thatit may be appliedsto the boxand removed therefrom with the utmost ease wherefore it may readily be taken from an, empty bOX fllldlEtPPllBCltO a.- freshbox as:

occasion requires; that it serves to supple ment the groove 18 in strengthening. the top; of the box; that theorifice is large enough to permit of" comparatively. free flow of the tobacco therethrough, or for the insertion of Furthermore, not the slightest change isrequired inpresent' methods of manufacturing fthe-cansand packing. the tobacco. therein-the latterbeing generally first Wrapped in moi-stureep-root paper -and that thetop portion of the paper wrapper may be torn 03 inthe: usual manner, to render the tobacco accessible, before applying the improved dispensing; lid. i

I. claim as ne-Wr and desire to secure by Letters Patent: 7

1. An. inside cover for boxes ofthe character described, comprising a fiat plate corresponding; inform to the shape of the mouth ofthe box, and cut away at one end for the purpose set forth, both sides of said plate being provided with depending tongues outwardly flanged to adapt them to engagegthe. groovenearzthe top of the boX to detachably retainthe plate in place, and one side of said plate being proyided between thetongues with a depending lip adapted to cover the opening at the top of the box caused by displacement of metal to form the.

hinge. I

. 2., An insidecover for boxes of the characterv described, comprising a flat plate a corresponding in form to the shape of the moutlrot the box, said. plate being. cut away at i one 1 end to provide a dispensing orifice and provided atthe other end with anotch to receive; the seam, dig the box, both sides of said plate being provided with depending tongues outwardly; flanged toadapt them to engagethe grooyenearthe-top oftlie box to detachably retain the plate ;in place, and one side of said plate being provided between; the tongueswith audepending lip adapted to cover the, opening at the top of the box caused by displacement of met-alto form the hinge.

Intestnnony whereof I airix my, signature.

EDWARD J1 BRENNAN.

Copieslof this patent maybe obtained for fivelcents eacril ny addressingutheCommisionef'bf Tatents,

Washington, D." 03" l 

